A compare



A. COMPARE AUTOMATIC RECORD DISK CHANGING DEVICEFOR PHONOGRAPHS s sheets-Shea 1 Filed Jan. 16. 1941 Fig.4

115mm Carma Arne/vars 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ami/Pro 604mm;

mwaw March 13, 1945. A. COMPARE 2,371,222.

AUTOMATIC DISK CHANGING DEVICE FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed Jan. is, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.4.

March 13, 1945. ADCOMPAREV 2,371,222

AUTOMATIC RECORD DISK CHANGING DEVICE FOR PHONOGRAPHS I Filed Jan. 16, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 I05 my /03 134 F5 6 m r1 2; x v J 1 5 12514050 402 v 446 13 0 427 I 456 12.9 flmikro (MW! March 3,1 45- A. om a 2,371,222-

AUTOIIATIC RECORD DISK CHANGING DEVICE FOR. PHONOGRAPHS V Filed Jan. 16. 1941 s Sheets-She et 5 Ame-hug 4455mm Jaw/1i:

' Arrow/Ev:

March 13. 1 5- A. COMPARE I 2,371,222 AUTOMATIC RECORD DISK CHANGING DEVICE FOR PHONOGRAPHS I Filed Jgn. 16, 1941 I 6 S heets-Shee't 6 I automatic manner.

' disk-changing mechanism Freeman. 13, 194s AUTOMATIC RECORD DIISK CHANGIN DEVICE FQR PHONOGRAPHS Alberto Compare, Milan, Italy; vested in the Alie Property llustodian Application January 18, Mil, Serial No. 374,772

In Italy January 12, 1940 3 Claims.

This invention has for its object an improved automaticrecord disk changing device for phonographs of the kind which allows the arrangement of a certain'number of record disks, for instance up to ten disks, on the phonograph and the successlve reproduction of the same in a completely when .the phonograph is once started, all operations, such as positioning the disks on the turntable and the successive reproductions, are eflected automatically.

More specifically, the device successively eflects the following operations upon the actuation of a control knob: the switch is closed to start the motor so that the turntable begins to turn; mechanism to release the first disk on the turntable is started; the pick-up is positioned upon .the edge of the disk and the stylus is made to engage the outermost groove of the disk; the diskchanging mechanism is stopped.

' On termination of the reproduction of the first disk, the pick-up is raised and moved outwardly beyond the edge of the disks; the second disk is released on the. turntable; the pick-up and stylus are moved inwardly to the beginning of the disk groove and the stylus is'made to engage the latter, and finally the disk-changing mechanism and pick-up controlling mechanism is again stopped.

These operations are repeated automatically for a plurality of disks without the necessity of employing any other manual operation.

On termination of the reproduction of the last disk, the phonograph is automatically-stopped.

The device also permits the repetition of a disk at the termination of its reproduction. In order to accomplish this purpose, it isnecessary to move the control knob anti-clockwise. In this way, the remains inoperative and the same disk is repeated.

Further, by moving the control knob clockwise at anytime during the reproduction of a disk, this reproduction is immediately terminated and the disk-changing device'is started in order to reproduce the next disk. 7 4

The device further permits the arrangement, in any order, of a number of disks having diflering diameters, and in such a case both the disk= changing mechanism and the pick-up controlling device will work automatically to successively reproduce the recordings.

The disk-changing device, according to this invention, comprises a crank spindle which is immovably inserted into turntable. On said spindle, the disks to be reprothe shaft carrying the form of a pile. 'Thechanging device further comprises a disk-releasing device disposed laterally on the margin of the turntable, a pick-up the ' position.

duced are arranged one above the other in the 00 in which:

'Most of the elements of and serve to control the IO0D is supported on base plate Pi as Lever I03 terminates with a raised tongue I30. This control lever I03 controls the starting of the controlling device and disk-releasing device, these three devices cooperating in a manner to automatically eflfect the above-described operations.

The present invention refers more particularly to certain improvements in these devices, which improvements are designed to assure simplicity of the individual parts, the reliable operation, and the low cost of manufacture. The new and useful improvements, according to this invention, are particularly set forth in the claims attached at the end of this specification.

The objects of the invention will appear when I drawings taken in connection with the annexed Fig. l is a perspective view of the disk-changing device according to this invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, from above, of the mechanism for controlling the disk-releasing device and the pick-up moving device;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the disk-releasing device;

Fig.4 is a detail of the disk-releasing device;

Fig. 5 is another detail oi the disk-releasing device;

Figs. 6 through 18 are shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 19 shows the lateral disk support and an arm for holding the pile of disks in horizontal details of the mechanism The device comprises a base plate Pi and a cover plate Ps, the latter being partially removed in Fig. 2 in order to show the various devices. the devices are arranged between these two plates and are supported on the base plate Pi.

M and m (Figs. 1 and 7) indicate. the control knobs which are supported in the cover plate Ps single operations, 1. e. to to arrest it, to repeat a disk Knob'M is connected with start the phonograph, and to reject a disk.

'9. control bar IOI which, through atransmission plate i02 pivoted as at I02a on the base plate Pi, controls a controlling lever I03. This lever I03 (Fig. 6) carries an upper stud IMA, a lower stud I003 and a raised tongue I000. The free end of lever I03 has a depressed portion, to which a guide lever I03D is pivoted as at I03E, which lever at IMF.

motor, and the operation of the disk-changing a device controlling the.

' ries on the underside of its free end a stud I05C.

by which it may move the lever I06 of the motor switch, in order to switch it ofl.

A double lever I01 serves to arrest theturntable by means of the gum button I01a fixed on one leg of the lever (Figs. 8, 8A). Said lever is pivoted. on the base plate Pi and is actuated by a spring I08 which spring presses the gum button against the inner border of the turntable, while a loosely pivoted tooth I09 serves to bring and to hold the button in a non-arresting position.

On the .pivot I02A of the transmission plate I02, there is also pivoted a double lever II I (Fig. 12), said lever having an arm IIIA which engages cam I MB on a cam disk IIO during a diskchanging operation. Arm i I I B of lever I I I operates a mechanism which releases the next disk on the turntable. The arm IIIA of this lever is therefore actuated by cam disk IIO which, during one complete revolution, controls all operations of disk-changing and pick-up moving.

The cam disk I'I0 has a small lower cam H03 and a small upper cam IIOA, as well as a cam guide I I00. The cam disk H0 is fixed on the same axis as the toothed wheel II9, said wheel meshing with a pinion fixed on the motor shaft I23, which shaft is also journaled in the turntable 2. The lower cam 03 servesto actuate lever I I I, which in turn initiates the release of the disks on the turntable. The cams Oil and H00 serve to control the tone arm which carlevers to adjust the disk-changing and tone ,am moving device for a large or a small disk, as the case may be.

The lever I21 is pivoted on the base plate Pi as at I21A, and the lever I26 is pivoted on lever I21 at point I35. The lever I26 is actuated bye I21 is also actuated by a spring i Fig. 17 shows levers I39, I40 which control lowering and raising of the tone arm carrying the ries the pick-up. To this purpose, the cam disk IIIlA cooperates with a controlling lever II2. This lever is pivoted on the base plate Pi as at I I2A. A torsion spring I I 23 is tensioned so as to push the lever H2 towards the disc cam III). In the rest position of the phonograph (Fig. 12), this lever II2 rests against the cam 0A and the axial spring of the lever is tensioned. A loosely pivoted balancing member H4 is supported by the lever H2 and bears on its underside, one end of said member carrying a laterally and upwardly projecting tooth. 0n the upper side of the free end of lever II2, there is pivoted a small plate 53 as at pivot 5, said pivot forming a-stud on the upper side of the lever. The free end of small plate 53 carries another stud I I5A. By means of a spring fixed on its pivot H5, the plate is pressed against a stud Y H2O fixed on the lever II2. Corresponding to the latter stud, but on the underside of lever I I2, there is another stud I I6 (Fig. 13).

The toothed wheel II9 (Fig. 15), which is normally meshing with the motor shaft I23, may be disengaged from this shaft by means of retractable segment or toothed portion IISA of the wheel itself. This portion IISA is formed on a lever I pivoted upon the wheel II9 as at II 90 and actuated by a spring II9D also fixed on this wheel. One end of the lever I 20 carries a stud I2I which extends upwardly through disk H0 and projects above said disk where it carries a plate I22 (Fig. 16). On the common axis IIOF of the toothed wheel H9 and cam disk III), above same, there is also pivoted a lever III made of two parts (Fig. 2), the one of which is actuated by a spring II1A fixed on the other. This lever II1 carries on its underside a springy plate 8. I

I26 and I21 (Figs. 9-10) are the adjusting spring I06A disposed on its pivot I35, one end oflever I 26being spaced above lever I21 to provide room for a stop I36 on the lever I21. The end of lever I26 near the pivot'point I21A of lever I21 carries a laterally projecting tooth I28. The end of lever I21 remote from its pivot I21A is pivoted as at I30 to element I30, said element having an opening. I30A, within which element I3I is hookable. The end of lever I26 is disposed in the path of cam IIOB of disk H0. The lever pick-up respectively at the beginning and at finishing of the reproduction. For this'purpose, the lever I39 has an opening I39A in which a pin I39B is guided, said pin being fixed on the pivot of the tone arm; The free end of lever I carries a roller I40A running against the peripheral edge of cam disc H0. The two levers I39 and I40 are pivoted together and lever I40 is further pivoted on the base plate Pi as at 0B.

Fig. 18 shows the elements which initiate the staring of the disk-changing device when the reproduction of a disc is finished, namely a plate I31 with a'stud I31A and an organ I38 witha tooth I38A pivoted as at I-30B.

Figs. 3' and 19 schematically show the lateral support for the disks on the releasing device, with the arm I4I carrying a gum roller resting on the topmost disk and a plate I44 pivoted on said arm, which members I44 and I45 serve to hold the pile of disks in horizontal position to thereby assure the resting of the disks on the lateral support so that they may be properly engaged by the releasing organs, and also to assure the arrest of the phonograph after reproduction of the last disk. i

'a lever I43 pivoted on the framework of the releasing device as at I43A. The lower end of lever I43 actuates the lever I06 of the switch I04 so that the lever 106 is brought beneath the toothed wheel I I 9.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 show the disk-releasing device. This device comprises framework 4IC fixed on base plate Pi. 0n the top of this framework is hinged the arm I4I as at I4I'. Furthermore, a support-4| is hinged at D upon this framework. Support H is hinged on two lateral projections E of said framework which projections form the support for the larger disks (Figs. 2 and 1a),

while '4I is'the support for the smaller disks. On support 4| is guided the tooth 39 serving to release the smaller disks, said tooth being normally urged to the right in Fig. 5 by spring 30A. Sup- 3' port 4| may be lowered by means of articulated elements 43, 44 and I32, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4, so as to allow releasing of the larger 33 is the releasing element, which element is pivoted on a fixing block 33 'I'his'iever. by means means of its lower cam asrnsas guided on block 88 by means of two'lateral flanges 33A, "B, through which passes a pin I1 fixed on block 38. A spring "E is arranged between one flange "A and the block It, so as. to return the element 32 after each action. Hook I33 '18 fixed on said element I3. .Element 36 is a guide for the element I3.

, M to the right (Figs; 1 and '1) the control lever II! is moved to the right.

first on the switch I and starts the motor.

Then, theupper stud 'IlSA engages the lever III, which lever normally depresses this time. the tooth I becomes raised, because its opposite-part is heavier (Fig. 8A)." with the tooth raised, the lever Idlis blocked, so that the turntable 2 is now free to turn. The raised tongue INC of lever IIII has displaced the lever I", so that the plate III of same has freed the plate I22 (Fig. and, thus, the lever I is pulled by spring IND to bring the to mesh with the motor shaft I23. Thus begins rotation of the toothed wheel H9 and of the cam disk IIII. The position shown in Fig. 12 correthe tooth I". At.

' and to begin thus the reproduction.

otdts lowerrstud IIIB, acts 3- no so that the levers us, us may become an placed by the weight of the tone arm so as to allow lowering of the tone arm. After this, the flattened beginning portion 02 cam guide IIIiC of the cam disk l-IIl'has engaged member IN.

The guide IIIIC raises one end of member IN and now the stud IIIA of plate IIi, which is slightly tensioned by a spring pre'viouslymentioned, pushes the arm IIIA slightly. This pushmg of arm IIIA and as a consequence of the pick-up, servesto bring the stylus of the latter to engage the outermost groove of the record disk At this moment, the plate I22 is arrested byplate II. of lever III and, therefore, the segment portion IilA-of the toothed wheel is disengaged from the piniomof the motor shiti't- I23 and,thus, the wheel II! is arrested. Now, the disk-changing and pick-up moving device is arrested and only themotor shaft carrying the turntable rotates.

(2) when reproduction of the record finished, the mechanism is in the position shown in Figs.

portion I ISA sponds to the rest position of the device and with a small record disk in releasing position, that is to say, in the lowest position of the pile (Fig. A).

The tone arm with the pick-up is in the rest position outward the turntable.

At beginning of its rotation, cam disk Ilfl, by

IIIIB, pushes immediately the arm IIIA of lever III, the arm IIIB of which pulls the lever I33 (Figs. 5, 12 and 12A).

The latter pulls the element33 which, in turn,

' acts on tooth 39 to thus release the lowest disk on the turntable 2. After this, the upper cam IIIlA, which inthe meantime held the lever H2 and therewith the tone. arm 6 in rest position, allows the lever I I2 to move inwardly. The lever H2 moves inwardly under the action of its axial spring 23 and follows the cam guide- I IDA. By moving inwardly, the lever II2, the tone arm 6 with the pick-up is also moved inwardly. For this purpose, a double lever I I3 is provided, which lever is fixed on the tone arm pivot (Fig. 2). The

'tooth INA of the lever II2 passes beneath the endof lever arm INA tothereby slightly lower the tooth INA (Fig. 12). When the tooth INA has been depressed, the lover. I ISA is again raised, because its opp site end IN is heavier, The arm INA is now between the tooth INA and the stud IIUA oiplate H5, and this latter plate H5 has been slightly moved in opposition spring. Continuing the rotation of cam disk III), the lever lI2also continues its inward displacement and, as a consequence, the lever arm 3A is also moved inwardly, and with it also the tone arm. This movement is arrested when the lever I I2 is arrested, by its-lower stud I I6 against stop I", said stop being fixed on the adjusting lever I21. The. position of 'lever I21 corresponds exactly to the diameter of the record disk just released on the turntable. Therefore, the tone arm with the'pick up is brought exactly above the border of this record disk; At this moment,

to its axial liberates plate I22 permits the ment I38 nearthe motor shaft I23. During the rotation of turntable 2, the gum button I2, fixed on the underside of the turntable near shaft 61 (Fig. 4) engages the element I38 and the element is pushed in an opposite direction whereby the element I38A moves the plate I22 which becomes thus freed from plate Ill. In this way, the portion IISA may return to mesh with pinion I23 and the wheel II 8 begins to rotate. Since the disk cam H0, at the beginning of its rotation, is in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 15, .its first action will be that of its peripheral cam guide,

which acts on roller NIIA of lever N0 and raises the pick-up. Immediately thereafter, the cam IIOA begins to move the lever Il2 outwardly which in turn moves the tone arm outwardly. In the meantime, the cam I IIIB reaches the lever II IA and initiates, in the described manner, the release of the next disk. Now, the cam lIflA return of the tone arm and the beginning of the next reproduction, in the described manner.

(3) When it is desired to interrupt reproduction of a disk, during its playing, In order to play the next disk, then one the right. with this movement, the tongue INC of controlling lever I03 moves lever III, which so that the disk-changing device is immediately started and the next disk is brought onto the turntable and the pick-up is moved so as to play this new disk, in the manner already described.

(4) when a disk should be repeated. one rotates the control knob M to the left, during any moment of its reproduction or on termination of same.

the end of reproduction; the disk-changing and pick-up moving device is started, in the described manner,then the lever III cannot act on lever I33, and therefore no new disk is released on the turntable.- The cam disc H0 commands only the tone arm so as to repeat the record disk lying on the turntable. The control lever I03 remains in the repeating position where it is. held by a spring acted must be returned in normal position by returning the control knob M by band (Fig. 6).

(5) To arrest the phonograph at any desired moment, one rotates control knob m to the right rotates knob M towards With this movement, the tongue I030 of control lever Illl raises the lever I33. At

lever N8 and by a stud N1, and i (Fig. 'I), so that bar I operates the lever I00 01 the switch I04, thus switching oil? the motor.

(6) -When the reproduction of the last disk of the pile is finished, then the tooth I42 of arm In (Figs. 14 and 19) presses on lever I43, which in turn pushesthe end of lever I06 beneath the toothed wheel 'IIS. On termination of reproduction of the last record disk, the wheel H9 is started in the known manner, and the lower of the turntable, arresting the latter.

Before switching off the-motor, the disk cam II 0, by means of guide Him and lever I I2, has brought the tone arm in rest position.

The six automatic operations described above are involved when asmall record disk is to be released. Under such conditions, member I33 is moved to the left, as viewed in Fig. 5, and member 33 is moved therewith in the same direction. The end of member 33 strikes against member '39 and moves the same to the left to cause discharge of a small record. It will be noted, however, that member 39 is a bell crank. Thus, if a large record is resting on support 4|, dog 39 will be depressed and depending member 34 will be swung to the right, as viewed in Fig. 5. When this is done, counterweighted lever I3I can swing in a clockwise direction, the latch 35 being free for movement. Under such conditions, plate I30 is freed. A hook of lever I3.I is unfastened when cam IIIIB, at the beginning of its movement, pushes lever I25 connected to lever I21 through hook I28. The counterbalance of lever I3I is responsible for the release after plate I30 has been moved.

Now, when gearIIS and the cam diskl I0 are operated, the lever I26, I21 tends to move inwardly under the thrust of spring I29. This also draws in lever I30 which is pivoted to lever I2I. When lever I30 is retracted, levers I32, 43 and 44 lower support 4|, as shown by the broken lines in Fig. 4. The large disk is then moved by member 33 to release position. Thus, when a small record is released, member 33 discharges it by moving member 39; while in the case of a large record, member 33 directly causes the discharge, support 4I being previously moved out of position.

At the same time, the stop I36 fixed to lever I21 is brought inwardly, so that the tone arm carrying the pick-up is arrested by this stop in a position corresponding to the border of a large disk.

At beginning of the next disk-changing opera tion, the cam guide II-0A first pushes levers I26, I21 again outwardly so that the support is again What I claim is:

1. A record changer for phonographs of the type which include a turntable and means for driving the same comprising, a stationary guide rod extending axially upwardly from the center of the turntable, said guide rod having a record supporting shoulder thereon, means for marginally supporting a record substantially in the plane of saidshoulder, a dog extending through said supporting means at a point adjacent the position of the edge of a record of small size resting on said supporting means, means supporting said dog for movement to and from the edge of said supporting means and in a plane normal to the surface of a. record resting on said supporting means, means, in the same plane as said dog, responsive to rotation of said turntable driving -means for moving said dog-toward that edge of said supporting means which underlies a record to cause discharge of a small record therefrom so that it may fall by gravity to the turntable under the guidance of said guide rod, means for moving said record supporting means out of supporting position, locking means normally rendering said last-named means inoperative, and

means responsive to depression of-said dog'by a record of large sizeoverlying the same and resting on said supporting means for releasing said locking means, said dog moving means also extending through said record supporting means to directly engage the edge of a large record.

2, A record changer for phonographs of the type which include a turntable, means for driving the same and a tone pickup comprising, a stationary guide rod extending axially upwardly from the center of the turntable, said guide rod having a record supporting shoulder thereon,

means for marginally supporting a stack of records of diiferent diameters with the lowest thereof substantially in the plane of saldshoulder, a dog extending through said supporting means at a point adjacent the position of the edge of a a record of small size resting on said supporting means, means supporting said dog for movement to and from the edge of said supporting means and in a plane normal to the surface of a record on said supporting means, means in the same plane as said dog and responsive to rotation of said turntable driving means for displacing said dog in the direction of that edge of said supporting means which underlies a record to cause discharge of a small record therefrom so that it may fall by gravity to the turntable under the guidance of said guide rod, means for moving said supporting means out of supporting position,

locking means normally rendering said lastnamed means inoperative, means for moving the tone pickup to playing position, a stop for positioning the pickup adjacent the outermost groove raised. Then, through the action of hook I3I,

lever I 30 and cam guide II 03, the disk-changing operation for either a large or small disk is completed.

When eilecting the repeating operation, the control lever I03, which in this case becomes moved towards the left, frees the hook I28. In this manner, the disk cam II 0 moves only the lever I26, which does not effect any operation, while the levers I21 and I30 are'not operated and remain in their position, that'is, in the outer position'when a small disk is on'the turntable for playing, and in the inner position when a large disk is on the turntable for playing.

. said stop moving means also of a record of small diameter, means for moving said stop for positioning the pickup adjacent the outermost groove of a record of large diameter,

being rendered normally inoperative by said locking means, and means responsive to depression of said dog by a record of large size overlying the same for releasing said locking means, said dog moving means also extending through said recordsupporting means to directly engage the edge of a large record, whereby when a large record is released the pickup will be automatically stopped at the outermost groove .of said record.

3. A record changer for phonographs of the type which include Vlng the same comprising, a stationary guide a turntable and means ior rod extending axially upwardly from the center of the turntable, said guide rod having. a record supporting shoulder thereon, means for-marginally supportingthe. record substantially in the plane of said shoulder, a dog extendingthrough said supporting means at a point adjacent the I position of the edge of resting on said supporting means, porting said dog means supnormal to the surface of a record resting onvsaid a record of small size for movement to and-from the edge of said supporting means and in aplane supporting means, a pivoted arm for exerting pressure downwardly from above the record on the surface thereof, means, in the same plane as said dog, responsive to rotation of said turntable driving means for moving said dog to the edge of the supporting means to cause discharge of a small record therefrom so that it may fall I by gravity to the turntable under the-guidance ot said guide rod, means for moving said supporting mined angular movement 7 permits movement of said arm to normally rendering said last named means inoperative, means responsive to depression of said dog by a record of large size overlying thesa'me for releasing saidlocking means, said dog moving means also extending through said record supporting meansj large record, and means responsive to a predeterof said arm for 'immobilizing the turntable driving means, whereby small'records are discharged from said supporting means by said dog large records depress said dog under the urging oi said arm to allow the support-to be moved away from supporting posi-,

tion so that the record may be discharged by the dog moving means, and, the absence of records.

turntable driving means.

means out of supporting .positiomlocking means to directly engage the edge of a v immobilize the COMPARE. 

